Lubbock County To Near 500,000 by 2060

John Osborne, president and CEO of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, said Thursday that Lubbock County is on track to approach 500,000 residents by 2060, citing state demographic projections and local growth trends. Texas Demographic Center materials show Lubbock County reaching 494,185 residents by 2060 under the projection set referenced in LEDA’s economic presentation. Osborne told EverythingLubbock that housing growth in west, south and southwest Lubbock and expansion in professional services are helping drive the increase. Local planning discussions are now centered on what that growth would require in roads, utilities, housing and public services. ### Where does the 500,000 figure come from? The Texas Demographic Center publishes county population projections through 2060 and says its Vintage 2024 series is intended for use with awareness of the assumptions and limits built into projection models. The center’s methodology document says the projections cover every Texas county by year from 2020 through 2060. A January 16, 2025 LEDA presentation titled “Current Economic Conditions & Trends” put Lubbock County at 331,871 residents in 2020 and 494,185 in 2060. (everythinglubbock.com) That slide described the change from 2024 to 2060 as 48.9% for Lubbock County, compared with 44.8% for Texas. ### What local growth did Osborne point to? Osborne told EverythingLubbock that Lubbock is seeing substantial housing activity in west Lubbock. (demographics.texas.gov) He said growth has moved “south and southwest” from a housing perspective. Professional services were another sector Osborne identified. EverythingLubbock reported that he cited steady gains in that part of the local economy alongside residential development as evidence that Lubbock remains attractive for people to live and work, including people with local ties who return after college. (lubbockeda.org) ### How fast is Lubbock growing now? (everythinglubbock.com) LEDA’s 2025 economic presentation said Lubbock was adding about 11 people per day, using Environics estimates cited in the document. The same presentation listed the City of Lubbock at 273,773 residents in 2025 and Texas at 31,245,372. EverythingLubbock’s earlier reporting on census-based local data also described recent population growth in the city and county. (everythinglubbock.com) That report said Lubbock had 272,086 people in the data set it cited and noted increases in workforce participation, household income and educational attainment. ### What would a county of nearly 500,000 require? LEDA said in a recent post on its annual forecast that infrastructure is central to how Lubbock will support future growth. (lubbockeda.org) The organization said Osborne’s presentation this year focused on where growth is occurring and what infrastructure will support the city for decades. The Texas Demographic Center has also framed long-range projections as planning tools for housing, transportation, health care and other services. (everythinglubbock.com) In a July 2026 update on statewide aging trends, the center said Texas communities will face rising demand for those systems as population changes continue. That statewide warning does not mention Lubbock County specifically, but it aligns with the kinds of local capacity questions raised by county growth projections. (lubbockeda.org) ### Where can residents and planners track the next numbers? The Texas Demographic Center’s estimates and projections pages are the main public source for updated county totals, and the center says final Vintage 2024 population estimates are available through January 1, 2025. LEDA also posts economic presentations and forecast materials on its website, including the January 2025 deck that lists the 494,185 county projection for 2060. (demographics.texas.gov) August 6 coverage by EverythingLubbock put the projection back into public view, with Osborne tying the headline number to current housing and services growth. The next concrete benchmark for local officials and residents will be the next round of state estimates and any updated LEDA forecast materials that incorporate them. (everythinglubbock.com) (demographics.texas.gov)